The Chicago Cubs extended the qualifying offer to left-handed starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga after the two sides both declined multi-year options to extend his time with the club. If Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer, then he’ll be locked into a one-year, $22.05 million contract and stick with the Cubs in 2026. As a reminder, Imanaga declined a two-year, $30.5 million player option to become a free agent.
According to national MLB insider Jon Heyman, Imanaga is expected to decline the qualifying offer from the Cubs.
It certainly seems like a bit of a shock, considering that Imanaga can guarantee himself a higher salary in 2026 if he accepts the qualifying offer. Plus, if he does indeed decline, then it’ll probably be tougher for him to get a longer contract because whatever team does sign him would then lose a draft pick.
But I guess Imanaga has enough confidence in his market and believes he’ll get as much as the $30.5 million that he has previously declined this offseason. However, we’ve already seen a couple head-scratching decisions from potential free agent starting pitchers who elected not to test free agency and remain on modest deals for 2026.
Shane Bieber opted back in with the Toronto Blue Jays and will earn $16 million next season, a decision that is still leaving folks within the industry scratching their head.
Jack Flaherty was the other starter who passed on testing the marker as he picked up a $20 million option to stay with the Detroit Tigers.
And you know, there’s that whole potential of a lockout following the 2026 season, so it’s not like there’s a lot of certainty about when baseball will start up again in 2027. We’ll see what ends up happening with Imanaga, but I do think it’s a bit of a surprise if he does indeed decline the qualifying offer.
(Previous Update)
The Chicago Cubs have extended the qualifying offer to a pair of pending free agents and one comes at a bit of a surprise. All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker was the obvious of the two, but the Cubs also extended the QO to left-handed starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga.
A few days ago the Cubs declined to pick up their team option that would have extended Imanaga’s contract with the club for another three years at $57 million. Imanaga then declined a player option worth $15.25 million, making him a free agent.
Now, Imanaga will once again get to decide whether or not he will remain with the Cubs in 2026.
So, what happens now?
- Imanaga accepts the qualifying, immediately agrees to 1 year, $22.05 million contract and stays with the Cubs in 2026, then becomes a free agent following next season.
- Imanaga and the Cubs negotiate a new contract.
- Imanaga rejects the qualifying offer, becomes a free agent and if he signs elsewhere the Cubs will receive a draft pick after the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft.
As for Tucker, pretty straightforward, as he will reject the qualifying offer and early indications point to him definitely signing with another team, which will then net the Cubs a draft pick.
We’ll see what Imanaga decides to do. In the history of the qualifying offer only 14 players have ever accepted it. He obviously declined his player option, believing that he would either get the QO, which he did, or that he can beat two years for $30 million in free agency. As for the Cubs, they obviously don’t mind having Imanaga back for $22 million, but it’s only a one-year deal, which is a lot easier to stomach for them than committing to three more years after the huge struggles in the last three months of the 2025 season.
A total of 13 players have received the qualifying offer this offseason.
Players have by Nov 18, to either accept or reject the one-year deal from their respective team.
